Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes lands to face sex assault claims

By
Megan Levy

The former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has arrived in Australia on a flight from London to face multiple sex assault allegations against children.

The former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has arrived in Australia on a flight from London to face multiple sex assault allegations against children.

The 64-year-old landed at Sydney Airport just before 7.30am on Thursday morning, flanked by NSW Police officers who had escorted him on Qantas flight QF2 from Heathrow.

He is expected to be taken to Sydney Police Centre from the airport.

The former prime-time TV star consented to an order sought by the attorney-general, Nicola Roxon, that he return to Sydney for questioning in relation to allegations that he assaulted five children between 1985 and 1990 while staring on the popular family television sitcom.

He has not been charged and his lawyer has indicated he intends to defend the allegations.

A warrant outlines 11 accusations made by people who were aged seven to 15 years at the time of the alleged abuse, which coincided with the actor's starring role in Hey Dad!

Alleged victims include the daughter of family friends and friends of Hughes's daughter, a London court was told during extradition proceedings.

Claims against Hughes were first made public in 2010. He was living in London with his wife when arrested in August 2012 by police seeking his extradition.